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Village by a River Bank in the Peruvian Amazon

Exploring the Upper Amazon

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Crucero Amazonas
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Embark on this 8-day Peruvian Amazon cruise ship, Crucero Amazonas, a luxury Amazon River cruise ship departing from the Amazon port town of Iquitos. You will navigate the Yarapa River to see a variety of birds. Go to Puerto Miguel and explore the Nauta Cano and Las Palmas, encircled by breathtaking natural scenery. Along the way, keep an eye out for the enigmatic pink river dolphins, discover more about the Peruvian Amazon, and take part in all the exciting onboard activities.
Learn about the rainforest from local naturalistsSpotting wildlife in the jungleA bald uakari in the Peruvian AmazonMacaws in the AmazonPink Dolphins swimming in the Amazon RiverTwo squirrel monkeys in the AmazonRiding a traditional canoe down the riverIndian from Yagua tribeAmazon Rainforest Canoe TripVillage by a River Bank in the Peruvian Amazon
Highlights
  • Visit the Amazon's birthplace at the confluence of Ucayali & Maranon Rivers
  • Sail the Yarapa River and see a variety of enchanting wildlife
  • Meet local villagers in remote Nauta and learn about their traditions
  • Visit Las Palmas, a village surrounded by beauty and tropical splendor
  • Learn how to prepare native Amazon fruit and fish dishes onboard
Places Visited
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Iquitos | Embark | Tamshiyacu

  • 1 Dinner
Upon arriving at the airport, a team from Crucero Amazonas will welcome you to the city of Iquitos. A bus will transport you to the boarding port, where you will board an auxiliary boat that will take you to spend the next eight days at your home away from home on board the Crucero Amazonas.

Once on board, settle into your room. Then, head to the third deck for the captain's and crew's welcome and a brief explanation of safety and evacuation protocols. As you begin your journey from the Nanay River to the Amazon River in the direction of Tamshiyacu, take a tour of the ship's common areas. As you navigate, the team will talk about the variety of highly nutritious fruits that the Amazon offers, rich in protein, fiber, iron, and vitamins, such as the Breadfruit Tree, camu camu, aguaje, macambo, aguaymanto, Cocona, passion fruit, lúcuma, coffee, cocoa, etc. To kick off this tropical fruit lesson, try a refreshing passion fruit sour as you settle into your new home. 

The onboard chef and his team will pamper your palate with an exquisite gastronomic experience, using ingredients that the Amazon pantry provides, depending on the season.

The Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Communal Reserve is an excellent location to see wildlife and plants in their native environments. Upon the ships arrival, prepare to go on an excursion in Tamshiyacu Creek in search of local species of birds, monkeys, sloths, caimans, fish, and dolphins. Be sure not to miss the beauty of your first evening's sunset in the Amazon. Overnight in Tamshiyacu.

Day 2: Yarapa River | Ucayali & Marañon Confluence

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The journey continues along the Amazon River as a buffet-style breakfast is served. Departure is scheduled for approximately 8 a.m.

By mid-morning, the bartender will be available on the third deck with fruit refreshments and cocktails inspired by the Amazon rainforest.

After lunch and upon arrival at the next destination, board the skiff to explore the calm black waters of the Yarapa River. Along the way, look for swallows, songbirds, piprites, black-necked falcons, monkeys, and sloths.

The route includes a visit to the Breadfruit Tree (Artocarpus altilis), locally called “Pandisho.” Its neutral-tasting fruit is a food staple for communities along the river, and its resin is traditionally applied to the skin to treat wounds and tumors.

Later in the afternoon, observe a remarkable natural phenomenon—the meeting of the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers. These mighty waterways merge to form the Amazon River. The sounds of rushing water, fluttering swallows, and chattering parrots create an unforgettable display of the rainforest's vitality. Overnight on the Yarapa River.

Day 3: Puerto Miguel | San Jose de Paranapuras | Nauta

After breakfast, board the skiff for a visit to Puerto Miguel, followed by a journey to a waterway connecting the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers. This area is home to the Amazon Victoria Lily, the largest of all water lilies, which thrives in the shallow tributaries of the Amazon River.

This red Amazonian fruit, Camu Camu, is known for its extremely high vitamin C content and antioxidant properties. It supports stress reduction, helps counteract free radicals, and may aid in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

In the afternoon, take a guided tour of San Jose de Paranapuras to explore local Amazonian products. Then, walk through a primary forest with towering trees, continuing toward a lagoon where the Shansho, a prehistoric bird species, can often be seen.

Later, visit Our Lady of Paranapuras, a settlement founded in 1652 by Father Figueroa near the "salinas de peña." This natural salt deposit has long been used for trade and remains important today for both culinary and therapeutic uses. Overnight in Nauta.

Day 4: Nauta Caño

This morning, after breakfast, take a tour of the town of Nauta to meet the riverside inhabitants. In the local market, you can learn about fish species and Amazonian fruits.

Legend has it that Nauta was established on April 30, 1830, by the Kukama chief Manuel Pacaya Irarica. Officially, it was founded in 1930. It is an important point for local communities because this is where they sell their crops, and also because it connects them with Iquitos, the capital of the department.

Today, you will learn about cocona, a fruit that grows in the tropical areas of the Peruvian Amazon. It is a delicious citrus fruit, reddish-yellow in color. Its high content of vitamin C allows for easy iron absorption. Also, it contains carbohydrates, iron, calcium, carotene, and phosphorus.

Board the auxiliary boat to take an excursion through Nauta Caño, part of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Nauta Caño is known as the forest of mirrors because incredible and beautiful sunsets and natural scenes are reflected in the black waters of the cochas and the flooded forest. You will have the opportunity to observe wildlife such as squirrels, monkeys, toucans, macaws, iguanas, birds, dolphins, and caimans. Overnight in Nauta Caño.

Day 5: Fundo Casual | Yanayacu Pucate

After breakfast, take a guided walk through Fundo Casual, a tropical forest managed by local residents. This area is home to a variety of wildlife, including tarantulas, rainbow boas, sloths, anacondas, and poison frogs. Locally made handicrafts crafted from wood and other natural materials will be available for purchase.

Aguaje is the focus of today’s featured fruit. Rich in phytoestrogens—compounds with anti-cancer properties—it helps combat breast, colon, and prostate tumors. It is also one of the most vitamin A-rich foods in the world. Aguaje plants store significant amounts of carbon, making them vital for climate change mitigation.

After lunch, set out for an excursion along the Yanayacu River, a blackwater tributary within the Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve. Wildlife sightings may include macaws, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, pink and gray dolphins, paiches, and black and white caimans.

Before nightfall, explore the Pucate River in search of caimans, nocturnal birds, anacondas, and to witness the vivid colors of the sunset reflected over the water. Staying into the evening offers the chance to hear the sounds of the jungle after dark. Overnight in Yanayacu Pucate.

Day 6: Las Palmas

After breakfast, visit Las Palmas, a village surrounded by tropical beauty and rich biodiversity. The visit includes demonstrations of traditional hunting tools such as the blowgun, spear, and bow. Lizards and sloths may also be spotted in the area.

Today’s focus is on aguaymanto and lucuma, two fruits native to Peru and grown in the coastal and Andean regions. Aguaymanto is high in vitamin C and recognized as a superfood due to its antioxidants and nutrients. It supports wound healing, boosts the immune system, increases red blood cell production, and helps delay aging. The lucuma tree, native to the Andes, is rich in fiber, antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins, and minerals. These nutritional qualities were highly valued during the Inca Empire, where lucuma was seen as a symbol of fertility. Artifacts dating back to 200 AD, including ceramics depicting lucuma, have been discovered in sacred tombs.

Board the auxiliary boat to explore the black water stream known as Shiriyacu and try fishing for piranhas. The excursion continues to Pahuashiro, a small tributary of the Marañón River, where birds and monkeys may be observed. This scenic area also offers ideal conditions for photographing the sunset.

Day 7: Tahuayo

Begin the return to Iquitos. It will be a long navigation during which guests are encouraged to relax and enjoy the journey. An interesting activity will take place on board: a tasting of macerated drinks and cocktails prepared with regional ingredients and fruits. Guests will also enjoy sampling various varieties of the country’s emblematic drink, learn about its history and origin, and then participate in the preparation of the pisco sour.

Discussion will focus on the paiche, a giant Amazonian fish rich in omega-3, 6, and 9. Overfishing once threatened its survival and disrupted the food chain by putting pressure on substitute species. To protect the species, a periodic fishing ban allows adult paiche to reproduce and juvenile fish to mature, contributing to population growth. Males build nests and care for the young fry.

In the afternoon, board the auxiliary boat to explore the Tahuayo River. Along the route, observe swallows, tropical songbirds, piprites, black-necked falcons, and sloths. Upon arrival, guests can try fishing for piranhas and other local species. After dinner, gather on the third deck to enjoy a memorable farewell cocktail.

Day 8: Iquitos | Disembark | Return Home

  • 1 Breakfast
Breakfast will be served later than usual to allow for additional rest.

On the third deck, the bartender will be available with fruit refreshments, wine, beer, cocktails, and spirits inspired by the Amazon rainforest, offering a final taste of the region as the journey nears its end.

Afterward, disembarkation will take place at the tourist port, where a bus will be waiting for the transfer to the airport. A guide will be on hand to provide any needed assistance through the boarding process for the return flight to Lima. Wishing a safe journey ahead after this unforgettable Amazon adventure.

Note: The itineraries and programs may vary depending on the climate, water level of the river, or migratory cycle of the animals. Therefore, the navigation route, schedules, and excursions may need to be modified at the guide’s or cruise captain’s discretion. The visit to the native communities is an excellent way to contribute to their development since the villagers have the opportunity to sell their one-of-a-kind handicrafts. There is no commitment, but if you are planning on buying a gift or souvenir, please bring some cash with you.

Ship/Hotel

Crucero Amazonas

Crucero Amazonas River Cruise Ship
Crucero Amazonas
Ship's lounge bar

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$9,450 2-3 travelers
Crucero Amazonas' prestige suiteCrucero Amazonas' prestige suite
Prestige Suite
Located on the upper deck, this suite has a classic design inspired by the first vessels that explored the Amazon with its semicircular shape. The prestige suite has two panoramic windows (180 degrees) and the best location and finishes to enjoy a splendid stay.
Crucero Amazonas' master suiteCrucero Amazonas' master suite
Master Suite
Located on the main and upper decks, these suites have a classic design and an inclined floor. The master suites have panoramic windows (90 degrees) to enjoy the view of the river and have a capacity for two people per suite.

Notes

Single Occupancy Rates is +50% on the adult rate.

Child Policy Rate: Those under 13 years receive a 20% discount on the adult rate. Children aged 6 and older are welcome.
Included
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 4 Dinners
  • 4 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Transportation to/from the airport/vessel
  • All meals and natural beverages
  • House wine during lunch and dinner
  • Welcome drinks
  • Equipment (ponchos and boots) during the described activities guided by the naturalists
  • Personalized assistance
  • Tickets to Rescue Centers or National Reserves
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Laundry services 
  • Airfare from Lima to Iquitos and vice versa
  • Unscheduled land and river transfers
  • Costs for emergency evacuation and medical assistance
  • Consumption of premium alcoholic beverages at the bar

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